A Phoenix First Must Burn

Patrice Caldwell is an author whose writing explores themes of love and connection. She is known for her work in young adult fiction, including the novel "Eternally Yours."

Elizabeth Acevedo writes compelling stories for young adults. She is best known for her award-winning novel in verse, The Poet X, and the contemporary novel, Clap When You Land. Her books often feature strong voices and explore important themes.

Amerie is an author known for her insightful writing. Her book, "Cool. Awkward. Black," explores themes of identity and experience.

Alaya Dawn Johnson is the author of the young adult novel Three Sides of a Heart. Her work often explores themes of identity and belonging within speculative fiction.

Justina Ireland is the author of Dread Nation (Balzer + Bray/HarperCollins), a New York Times bestseller as well as the sequel Deathless Divide. Her earlier works include the fantasy young adult novels Vengeance Bound and Promise of Shadows (both Simon and Schuster). Justina also writes for the Star Wars franchise, including the books Lando’s Luck, Spark of the Resistance, and the upcoming A Test of Courage, part of the High Republic publishing initiative. She is the former co-editor in c...

L. L. McKinney is a fantastic author known for her fresh takes on fantasy, from the urban magic of A Blade So Black to her Wonderland series. She also brings her unique vision to superhero comics like Captain America and Nubia.

Rebecca Roanhorse (born September 23, 1971, in Conway, Arkansas) is an American science fiction and fantasy writer based in Northern New Mexico. She holds degrees from Yale University, Union Theological Seminary, and the University of New Mexico School of Law. Her novels include the Sixth World duology (Trail of Lightning, Storm of Locusts) and the Between Earth and Sky trilogy (Black Sun, Fevered Star, Mirrored Heavens), which won the 2025 Hugo Award for Best Series, along with Star Wars: Resi...

Karen Strong is the author of critically acclaimed middle grade novels Just South of Home, which was chosen for several Best of Year lists including Kirkus Reviews Best Books, and Eden’s Everdark, a Junior Library Guild and BCCB Blue Ribbon selection. Karen is the editor of the young adult anthology Cool. Awkward. Black. and a Star Wars contributor featured in From a Certain Point of View: The Empire Strikes Back and Stories of Jedi and Sith. Her speculative short fiction appears in the award-wi...

Ashley Woodfolk is a contemporary young adult author known for novels like Blackout, The Beauty That Remains, and Nothing Burns As Bright As You. Her stories often explore themes of friendship, love, and self-discovery.

Ibi Zoboi is the New York Times Bestselling author of MY LIFE AS AN ICE CREAM SANDWICH (Penguin, 2019), her middle grade debut, and the Young Adult novels PRIDE (HaperCollins, 2018) and AMERICAN STREET (HarperCollins, 2017), a National Book Award Finalist and recipient of five starred reviews. She is also the editor of BLACK ENOUGH: STORIES OF BEING YOUNG & BLACK IN AMERICA (HarperCollins, 2019). Ibi holds an MFA in Writing for Children & Young Adults from Vermont College of Fine Arts. Her wr...

Danielle Paige is an American young adult author best known for the New York Times bestselling Dorothy Must Die series, a dark reimagining of L. Frank Baum's Oz. She also writes the Stealing Snow series, co-writes The Ravens series with Kass Morgan, wrote the DC Ink graphic novel Mera: Tidebreaker, and contributed short stories to YA anthologies including Slasher Girls & Monster Boys and A Phoenix First Must Burn. A graduate of Columbia University, she began her career in television — working he...